Ironing device



Sept. 24, 1935.

E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet m m m4 Sept. 24, 1935..

E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1954 5km Pa Q %& as h -1 a m mm. x 7 m Q mm, mm a Q Q a g Wm a 8 a a E 8lnwefitors zitlomey;

Sept. 24, 1935. E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet Inventors Attorney:

Sept. 24, 1935. E. WALKER ET AL 2,015,093

IRONING DEVICE Filed Ma h 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnventaru AtlarneygSept. 24, 1935. E. WALKER ET AL IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 24, 1935.

E. WALKER ET AL 2,015,093

IRONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 norm vnvflvnvnvnvVIIIIIIIIIIIIII" nventars ea 7 J/ Attorney:

Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATS IRONING DEVICE Application March19, 1934, Serial No. 716,284

15 Claims.

Our invention relates to ironing devices and has particular reference toa device for ironing and folding rectangular sheets of material.

In laundry practice considerable difficulty is encountered in ironingand folding flat work, such as napkins, handkerchiefs, and the like,wherein it is desired to iron such. articles and then fold the same atthe center of the article. While no dificulty is encountered in ironingsuch 10., flat articles, the folding of the same upon the proper centerhas required manual location of such centers by manual labor, and hasrequired that the folding be done by hand, particularly when it wasdesired to handle a number of flat 1 15; articles of differentdimensions.

For example, in the laundering of table napkins a great many difierentsizes of napkins would be normally encountered during the laundering ofany single batch which would require that the operator of any priorironing machine, though readily ironing the work while fiat, would berequired to manually find the centers of the different sized napkins andto fold the same by a manual operation, seriously interfering with the25 rapidity with which such articles can be finished.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide an ironingdevice which will automatically iron such flat pieces and automaticallyfold the same at their centers irrespective of the di- 30- mensions ofthe particular pieces worked upon.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device for automaticallyironing and. folding flat pieces in which the articles are fed into themachine by a device which automatically lo- 35 cat-es the center of thepiece, irrespective of its dimensions.

Another object of our invention is to provide an ironing machine inwhich a plurality of different sized flat pieces may be fed into the ma-40 chine, ironed therein, and each automatically folded upon its propercenter.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of the characterset forth in which an operator of the machine may successively 45 feedfiat pieces of varying sizes to the machine and in which the center ofsuch pieces will be automatically located by the machine and the piecesbe folded upon their respective centers and fed from the machine in a.finished ironed and folded condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automaticcenter-locating device for flat pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide 55 an ironing machine inwhich an automatic cenoer-locating device is employed to feed the piecesto the machine in predetermined relative positions and in which afolding device is employed to automatically fold such pieces upon thecenters so located. 5

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of thefollowing specifications read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevational View of an ironingmachine constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an ironing machine shown in Fig. 1,as viewed from the opposite side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and2, the section being taken along line IIIIII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line IVIV of Fig. 3;ig. 5 is a detail, sectional view, taken along line VV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail, sectional view, taken along line VIVI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail,.sectional View, taken along line VIIVII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail, plan view of the centerfinding and feeding deviceshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a set of links em- 3 ployed with thecenter-locating device shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail View of the gripping or holding device employed withthe center-locating device shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating the manner of fastening ironingpads to our ironing device:

Fig. 12 is a detail, sectional view, taken along line XXL-XII of Fig.11; and

Fig. 13 is a detail, perspective view of a rotor assembly employed withour ironing device.

Referring to the drawings, we have illustrated our ironing and foldingmachine as comprising a suitable frame formed of two side plates l and2, the tops of which are interconnected by means of a suitable top plate3 while the bottoms of the side plates l and 2 are connected together bysuitable spacer bolts i and 5 to comprise a relatively rigid framewithin which and upon which the operative mechanism of our ironer may beassembled.

By referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that theinterior surfaces of the side plates i and 2 are cut away, as indicatedat 5 and i, to -form a pair of internal bearing members upon which maybe mounted a rotor assembly 8. The rotor assembly 8 is illustratedparticularly in Fig. 13 as comprising an end spider 9, the circularexterior surface of which conforms with the interior surface of thegroove 6 on the side plate I, the spider 9 being formed with anoutwardly extending boss l journaled in a suitable opening I I in theside plate I, preferably at the center of the side plate I.

The opposite end of the rotor assembly 8 is formed of an annular ring12, the exterior surface of which conforms with the interior surface ofthe groove 7 in the plate 2 and forms therewith the sole bearing surfacebetween the left-hand end of the spider assembly 8 and the side plate 2(as viewed in Fig. 4) The ring i2 is interconnected with the spider 9 toform a unitary assembly by means of a plurality of cross rods i3, in theform of the device shown herein there being six cross rods l3, evenlyspaced about the periphery of the ring l2.

The rotor assembly 8 is preferably employed to form the ironing surfaceupon which the napkins, handkerchiefs, or other fiat work pieces, may beplaced, during the initial ironing operations, and for this purpose wehave illustrated the rotor assembly as being provided with a pluralityof supporting plates l4, each of which is formed of a flat metal platebent at its center on an angle of approximately 120 so that when theplates are assembled upon the rotor E? with one of the cross rods 13 atthe bend of each of the plates, the set of six plates form asubstantially hexagonal surface surrounding the rotor assembly.

It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the constructionand mounting of the plates i i is such that each of the fiat surfaces ofthe hexagon is formed by one-half of the area of one plate and byone-half of the area of its adjacent plate the two ends of the adjacentplates being spaced apart as indicated at i5 at a point exactly at thecenter of the flat surface of the hexagon.

We prefer to provide the ironing surface of the rotor 3 with a suitablepadding or resilient cloth covering to contact the articles to be ironedduring the ironing operation, and for this purpose we have illustratedeach of the plates It as being covered with a sheet it of suitable clothmaterial, such as flannel, or similar material, having a relativelythick pile or nap. Each of the sheets i6 is preferably secured to itsassociated plate M, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 3, 11 and 13,as by turning the front and rear edges thereof back beneath the plate14, as is illustrated particularly in Fig. ll at IT. The inturned edgeof the sheet iii may be held in place by any suitable securing device,though we prefer to provide a clamping plate I8 for each edge of thesheet 15 secured thereto in any suitable manner. As is particularlyillustrated in Figs. 3, 11 and 12, the edges of the plates M may besuitably supported upon the spider 9 and the ring i2, as by providingupturned ears H) on the plates [4 adapted to receive screws rethreadedinto the side walls of the ring and spider, the screws 28 being alsoemployed for the purpose of securing the clamping plates l8 in place inproper associated relation with the plates having an area approximatelyequal to one of the hexagonal surfaces of the rotor 8. The ironer 2! ispreferably mounted at the top of the frame formed by the plates 1 and 2so that the ironer may be urged into pressing relation with the articlesto be ironed under the influence of gravity.

The side plates 5 and 2 are each provided with an upstanding extension22 across which the top plate 3 is secured to form a mounting for theironer 2! permitting the same to be reciprocated vertically relative tothe rotor 8; The ironer 2| may be mounted and operated in any suitable10 manner. For the purpose of illustrating the same, it is shown hereinas being secured to the lower end of a piston rod 23, the upper end ofwhich bears a piston Ea operating in a steam or other fluid pressurecylinder 25 so that upon admission of steam or other fluid pressure intothe cylinder the ironer 2| will be lifted to such position as willpermit the rotor 8 to rotate without contact with the ironer, and whenpressure is released from the cylinder 25 the ironer will de- 0 sceiidby gravity to apply pressure to the articles supported upon the rotor.

The ironer 2! may be heated in any suitable manner, as by forming thesame of hollow construction, permitting the admission of steam 25thereto, or by providing the same with any suitable, well-known electricheating arrangement familiar to those skilled in the art.

In the form of the device illustrated herein, employing a hexagonalsurface on the rotor, it will be observed that a succession of napkinsor other pieces may be placed one at a time upon each of the surfaces ofthe rotor 8 and brought into position immediately below the ironer 2| byintermittently moving the rotor through one-sixth of a revolution at atime, and for. this purpose we have illustrated driving means for therotor 8 as comprising a star-wheel 25 keyed as at 2'! to the extendingboss E0 of the spider 9, the star-wheel being provided with six teeth 28spaced evenly 4 aroun the wheel. A pin drive is employed forintermittently engaging the star-wheel, such pin drive comprising adrive pin 29 secured upon a crank arm 39 which is in turn rigidlysecured to a shaft 3! extending through both of the side plates l and 2of the machine and having secured upon the lefthand end thereof, asviewed'in Fig. l, a suitable drive gear 32, or any other suitable deviceto which motive power from a suitable prime mover source may be applied.

The shaft 3! is arranged to be continuously rotated by its prime moverduring the entire operation of the machine, while the pin 29 is arrangedto engage the teeth of the star-wheel 28 only once in each revolution ofthe shaft 3!, as by providing a suitable cam secured to the exterior ofthe side plate I so shaped and located as to engage the outer end of thepin 29 when the crankarm is rotated to a position to bring the pin 29 toa position substantially immediately above the shaft 3! By referringparticularly to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the cam 33 1s bentoutwardly, as indicated at 34, to provide an inwardly sloping camsurface 35 engageable by the pin 29 to move the (55 pin toward thestar-wheel, the pin 29 being provided with a suitable compression spring36 normally holding the pin out of possible engagement with thestar-wheel. Thus each time the shaft 3| is moved through one revolutionin the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 2, the pin 29 willengage the star-wheel and move the star-wheel one-sixth of a revolutionbefore the pin 29 is released by the cam 33, and thereafter continuedmovement of the shaft 3| through the remainder of its revolution willnot be accompanied by further movement of the star-wheel and its rotor8.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and l, it will be observed that theleft-hand ends of the shaft 3|, as viewed in Fig. 4, may be providedwith a suitable operating mechanism for causing movement of the ironer2| in proper timed relation with the rotation of the rotor 8, as byproviding a cam 31 upon the shaft 3| to engage an operating rod 38associated with a control valve 39 for controlling the admission offluid pressure to the ironer operating cylinder 25. By selecting theshape and the position of mounting of the cam Bl upon its shaft 3|, theironer 2| may be lifted just prior to the engagement of the pin 29 andits star-wheel so that the ironer ill will be lifted out of the way ofthe moving rotor just prior to the movement of the rotor and the ironerwill be permitted to descend to the new surface of the rotor as soon asthe pin 29 is released from the star-wheel at the completion of theforward movement of the rotor 8.

With the apparatus thus far described, napkins, handkerchiefs, or otherfiat pieces placed one at a time upon each of the fiat surfaces of therotor a may be automatically moved into ironing position beneath thehonor by the successive rotation of the rotor 8, and it will be observedthat if each of these pieces is so placed upon its surface of the rotorthat the space It lies immediately beneath the center of the napkin,such napkin may be folded at the space H: to fold the napkin properlyupon its center.

To properly space and locate the napkin upon its ironing surface, weprefer to provide a feeding mechanism to automatically center the napkinupon the rotor, irrespective of the size or varying dimensions ofsuccessive pieces to be handled by the machine.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8. we have illustrated such feeding mechanism at itas comprising a backing plate 4| mounted upon a bracket &2 which is inturn pivoted upon a shaft 43 extending between and journaled in the sideplates and 2 and as having outwardly extending ears M formed thereon. Onthe upper surface of the backing plate 4| we provide four Ushap=edbrackets 45, at, M and t8. The brackets 5 and M3 are arranged inalignment with each other upon the right-hand side of the plate l l, asviewed in Fig. 8, and constitute a continuous bearing support for a rod49, while brackets 4'! and d8 are similarly located upon the left-handside of the plate M and constitute a support for a second rod 56. Therods 49 and 5f! constitute bearing members for the opposite ends of aslide 5| which extends across the plate M near the upper end thereof andalso constitute bearing members for a similar slide 52 located andextendingacross the lower end of the plate 4|. The slides 5| .and 52 areinterconnected with each other by means of a pair of cross links 53 and54 pivotally joined together at their centers as by means of a suitablebolt 55, while the outer ends of the links are provided with slots 56each engageable with a pin 51 extending rearwardly from the ends of theslides 5| and 52. Thus any movement of the slide 5| toward or away fromthe center of the plate 4| will be accompanied by an equal and oppositemovement of the slide 52 toward and away from the center of the platefill. Thus if a napkin has its upper edge secured to the plate 5| andthe slides are moved toward the center until the lower edge of thenapkin abuts a predetermined point on the slide 52, the napkin will haveits horizontal center located at the exact horizontal center of theplate M. This construction, therefore, constitutes a device for locatingthe horizontal center of the napkin as it is placed upon the feedingdevice Mi.

By referring particularly to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the bar 5|has attached at its center a bracket 58 which extends as illustratedparticularly in Figs. 1 and 2, substantially parallel to the plate Thebracket 58 has mounted thereon a shelf 59 upon which the napkin may bespread so that both the napkin and the shelf 59 may be moved upwardlyand downwardly to properly center the horizontal center of the napkinwith the horizontal center of the plate M. It will also be observed thatthe lower .bar 52 has a strap t8 attached thereto, extending over theupper surface of the shelf 59 to constitute a guide which the lower edgeof a napkin on the shelf 58 may abut when the napkin is properlycentered upon the. shelf.

Slidably mounted upon the bar 5| is a pair of blocks El and 62. Theblock 6| is secured in any suitable manner, as by Welding, to a bearingmember E53 having flanges 54 and t5 downturned therefrom to engage theside edges of the block i| so that the bearing 63 with its block |5| maybe moved horizontally along the bar 5!. The bearing member 63 may beretained upon the bar 54 in any suitable manner, as by an elongatedstrap 6 5 secured as at 81 and 63 to the bar 5| and passing over thebearing members 53 to prevent them from movingaway from the bar 5|.

It will be observed that the bar 5| is provided with a pair of elongatedslots 69 and it through which pins H and it on the blocks 6| and 52,respectively, may project, the slots 69 and lo each extending for aconsiderable distance along the length of the bar 5|. 7

The block Bl is provided with a vertically extending slot it, in whichis located a grip member M, the same being retained in the slot 13 bymeans of a spring l5, one end of which passes through the grip M, whilethe other end it of the spring bears upon the base of a horizontal slotH intersecting the slot 33.

Likewise the block 62 is provided with a grip 3 similarly retained bymeans of a spring W. The lower ends of the grips i l and is are eachprovided with a prong 8i and 5|, respectively, and these prongs extendto a position substantially in alignment with the forward edge of theblock 6| at a point immediately adjacent the upper edge of the shelf 5.;so that by depressing the rear ends of the grips 'M and i3. the gripswill be rotated relative to the blocks El and 62 to raise the prongs outof the slots 5'3 and permit the upper edge of a napkin to be insertedbetween the prongs and the blocks 6! and 52.

By referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 it will be observed that theblock is provided with a link 82 pivoted as at 83 to the bar 5!, andhaving an elongated slot is extending longitudinally thereof to engagethe lower end of the pin H. Similarly, the block 62 is provided with alink 85 pivoted as at 36 to the bar 5i and having a similar elongatedslot 8| engaging the lower end of the pin '52. The lower end of the link35 is connected by a bar 88 to a point 89 on the link 32 spaced upwardlyfrom the pivot point 83 of that link so that any movement of the slide5! along the bar 5! will, through the linkage 82 l33i5 be accompanied bya similar but opposite movement of the block .62.

By properly initially locating the blocks GI and 62 at equal distanceson opposite sides of the vertical center of the plate 4|, it followsthat any movement of the block 9! relative to the center will beaccompanied by an equal and opposite movement of the block 92 toward oraway from the center. Thus by securing the extreme corners of the upperedge of the napkin to the grips T4 and i8 movement of the blocks SI and62 to stretch the napkin flat will automatically locate the verticalcenter of the napkin in alignment with the vertical center of the plate4|. If desired, the links 82 and 35 may be normally urged outwardly(that is to a napkin-stretching position) by means of a spring 99connected respectively to the link 82 and the bar 88.

With the construction of the napkin-feeding device thus far described,it will be apparent that all that an operator has to do is to grasp acorner of the upper edge of a napkin, place the same upon the shelf 59and engage the grips I4 and 18 with the corners of the napkin, whichoperation will automatically find the vertical center of the napkin andlocate the same upon the vertical center of the plate 4|. Then bydrawing the bar 5| bodily upwardly or downwardly until the lower edge ofthe napkin abuts the guide strap 69 of the bar 52, the napkin will haveits horizontal center also properly located relative to the horizontalcenter of the plate 4|.

The napkin so located upon the feeding device 49 is now ready to beplaced upon one of the ironing surfaces of the rotor 8. This may beaccomplished by rotating the entire feeding mechanism 49 about its shaft43, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 3, to bring the nap-kin which isnow supported upon the shelf 59 into contact with that hexagon surfacepresented forwardly and upwardly upon the machine. The movement of thefeeding mechanism 49 may be accomplished by hand, if desired, though weprefer to move the same automatically, as will be hereinafter described,and we provide an automatic releasing device for releasing the grips I4and I8 when the napkin is pressed into contact with the padding orcovering of the plates I4, which mechanism consists essentially in apair of rods 9| and 92 extending from opposite ends of the shaft 43 insuch position that the outer ends of the rods SI and 92 will engage across rod 93 extending through the outer ends of both grips I4 and I8.The rod 93 is slidably mounted in the bracket 58, as by means of passingthe same through an elongated slot 95 in the bracket, and securing thesame against lateral movement by means of a pair of collars 95, one oneach side of the bracket 94 mounted upon the bar 5|. Thus as the napkinis pressed ti htly upon the cloth covering of the plates I4 the gripmembers will be operated to release their grip upon the napkin and thenapkin will then be secured upon the cloth covering of the plates by theadhesive action of the pile of the cloth covering.

While the transfer of the napkin from the feeding mechanism 49 may beaccomplished manually, we prefer to automatically move the transfermechanism toward the rotor and transfer the napkin therefrom at apredetermined time relative to the successive movements of the rotor,and for this purpose we have illustrated an automatic feeding device foroperating the feeding mechanism 43 as consisting of a lever 91 pivotedto the outside of the frame side plate I, as indicated at 99, in suchposition as to be engaged by a cam surface 99 formed on the outerextremity of the crankarm 30 to be swung to the right as viewed in Fig.2 upon each rotation of the shaft 3 I. The lever 91 is connected by acrank I99 to an ear |9I on the bracket 42 so that as viewed in Fig. 2movement of the lever 9'! will 5 cause the bracket 42 to swing thefeeding mechanism 49 about its pivot 43 from the position shown in Fig.2 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The shaft 43 is likewise arranged to be given 10 an oscillatory motionby the cam surface 99, as by connecting the shaft 43 rigidly to a shortlever I92 which is in turn connected by the link I03 to a second linkI94 pivoted, as at I95, to the lever 97, the link I94 being arranged toalso be engaged by the cam surface 99 as the crank 39 is rotated so thatafter the feeding mechanism 49 has pressed the napkin into contact withthe rotor 8 it will swing the rods 9| and 92 outwardly with respect tothe machine to automatically press the rod 93, releasing the grips i4and I8 from the napkins. The rods 9| and 92 will be held in theirgrip-releasing position until the feeding mechanism 49 has started itsreturn movement to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. Thereturn movement of the feeding mechanism 49 may be assisted by a coilspring I96, while the outermost limit of movement of the feedingmechanism 49 may be determined by a suitable stop it? secured to theside I of the frame of the machine.

With the apparatus thus far described it will be apparent that a napkinplaced upon the feeding mechanism '58 and moved into position upon theironing surface plates I4 will be ready to be 3 ironed by the ironer 2|at the next movement of the rotor 8. It will also be observed that thenapkin, irrespective of its size, will be located upon the ironingsurface with both its vertical and its horizontal centers located alongpredetermined 40 lines on the ironing surfaces.

After the ironing of the napkin takes place by the ironer 2 I, the nextsuccessive movement of the rotor 8 will bring the napkin to the positionshown at I98, at which time the napkin has been pressed out flat and isready now to be folded along one of its centers.

Since the napkin has been placed upon its ironing surface with itshorizontal center accurately aligned with a predetermined horizontal 09line on the ironing surface, the napkin may readily be foldedautomatically along its horizontal center by pressure applied at thespace I5 between the plates I4 forming the particular ironing surfaceupon which the napkin is located. This folding may be readilyaccomplished by a tucking member I99 comprising a relatively thin flatplate slidably mounted in a suitable guide I I9 arranged substantiallyradially relative to the center about which the rotor 8 rotates. We haveillustrated (30 the plate I99 and its guide I I!) as mounted upon a pairof brackets II I, each of which is mounted upon a block 2 rigidlysecured to a spacer bar 3 extending between the plates I and 2 of theframe of the machine. The blocks II2 also con- (35 stitute mountingmembers for a shaft II4, the outer end of which is provided with acrankann I I5 extending below the shaft I I4 to be engaged by the outerend of a rockpin I I9 slidably mounted in a guide bearing Hi, theopposite end N8 of 7 the pin being engaged by the cam surface 99 as theshaft 3| is rotated. The shaft I I 4 has rigidly secured thereto a red II9 which extends, as shown in Fig. 3, through a slot I29 in the tuckingplate I99 so that upon each movement of the crank I I5 V in the art.

by its pin I66 the rod H9 will be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig.3, to drive the tucker plate I89 into the space I5 between adjacentironing surface plates I4, and thus tuck the horizontal center of thenapkin through the space I5 into of sections a and h, each rigidlysecured to a shaft I but with a space I23 therebetween, and similarlythe roller I22 is formed in half sec tions 0 and d spaced and mountedupon a shaft I2l. The folding and ironing rollers IZI and IE2 arearranged to be power driven to draw the napkin between them, while heatmay be supplied to the rollers IZI and I22 in any suitable manner, aswill be understood by those skilled For example, either the rollers maybe provided with suitable electric heating coils or the shafts I25 andI2'I may be formed of hollow construction permitting the supplying ofsteam to the interior of the rollers. As the napkin feeds through therollers I2I and I22, we have arranged to have the same pass onto thereceiving table formed of a pair of shelves I28 and IE3, illustratedmore particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and '7, and arranged to be secured as bymeans of screws I39 to a downwardly extending bracket I3I which is inturn supported upon a shelf I32 secured to .the side plate 2.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figs. 4 and '7 that the twoshelves I28 and I29 are separated by a space I33 along a plane alignedwith the vertical center of the napkin when properly placed upon theironing surfaces of the rotor 3. Thus the napkin which has beeninitially folded may now be passed down through the space I33 intoengagement with a pair of secondary rollers I34 and I35 to again foldand iron the napkin upon the vertical center thereof. The feeding of thenapkin down into engagement with the rollers I34 and I35 may beaccompanied by a secondary tucker plate I33 mounted between a'pair ofupstanding brackets I3'I supported upon the shelf I32. The secondarytucker plate I35 is illustrated as having a roller I33 secured theretoto be engaged by the bifurcated end I39 of a lever I40 which is in turnsecured to a shaft I4I extending through the side plate 2 of the frameof the machine.

By referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the shaftI4I has a crank I42 secured thereto, the upper end of which forms a pawlI43 engageable by'a notch I44 in the end of a link I45 secured to andmovable with the feeding mechanism 453, as indicated at I46. Thus eachtime the feeding mechanism 43 is moved inwardly to place a new napkinupon the ironing surfaces, the tucker plate I33 will be moved downwardlyto press that napkin which has just been ironed by the rollers IZI andI22 into engagement with the refolding rollers I34 and I35.

Again the rollers I34 and I35 may be supplied with heat in any suitablemanner, as described with reference to the rollers IZI and I22.

The coordination of the operations of the rotation of the rotor, theoperation of the feeding mechanism 40, the operation of the initialtucker I09, and the operation of the secondary tucker I36 ashereinbefore described, includes the drive mechanism through which powerfor all of these operations is transmitted through the shaft 3| andcrankarm 36 so that by properly gearing the shaft 3! to the rollersI2I--I22 and rollers I34I35, all of the power operations of the machinemay be accomplished by supplying rotary power to the single shaft 3 I.

By referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 6, it will be observed thatpower for operating the rollers I34 and I35 may be transmitted from theshaft 35 by means of a spur gear I4l coupled through idler gears I48 toa pinion I49 on theend of a stub shaft I53. The stub shaft I53 extendsthrough the side plate 2 of the frame of the machine and bears upon itsinner end a mitergear I EI engaged with a second miter-gear I52 securedto a jackshaft I53 mounted in suitable bearings I54, I55 in a bracketI53 secured upon the underneath surface of the shelf I 32. The inner endof the shaft I53 bears a spur gear I5? connected through an idler gearI58 with a pinion I59 rigidly secured to the shaft Ito of the rollerI34.

By referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will be observed that the shaftI63 is rotatably mounted in the bracket I3I and bears a second pinionI3I which is connected through idlers I52 and I63 to the pinion I64mounted rigidly upon the shaft I 35 of the roller I35. Since the napkinsor other flat pieces which are to be ironed by the .machine wi l varyconsiderably in thickness, it is necessary to provide some slight playbetween the rollers I34 and I35, and for this purpose we haveillustrated the shaft I65 of the roller I35 as being movably mounted inthe bracket I3I. This is illustrated herein as comprising an elongatedarcuate slot I66 formed in the bracket I3I, the center of curvature ofwhich coincides with the center of rotation of the shaft IE'I upon whichthe idler I63 is mounted, the width of the slot I63 being equal to thediameter of the shaft I55 so that a napkin of unusual thickness maypress the roller I35 away from the roller I34 without unmeshing thegears I33 and IE4.

The opposite ends of the shafts Ito-465 are likewise mounted in abracket I63, the shaft I53 being fixedly rotatable in the bracket I38while the shaft I35 is mounted in an arcuate slot I69 so that this endof the shaft I35 may also move to accommodate varying thicknesses ofmaterial.

Both ends of the shaft I35 are normally urged toward the shaft IBEI bymeans of suitable springs no, each of these springs being connected to asuitable rider I'II mounted loosely upon the shafts.

It may'also be understood that a similar mounting of the shafts I25 andIN for the rollers IZI and I 22, respectively, may be provided to permitthese rollers also to separate a greater distance for varyingthicknesses of material. This mounting includes the journaling of theshafts I25 and I2? in bearing brackets H2 and M3, the shaft I Z'Iextending also through the side plate 2 of the frame of the machine andhas a pinion I14 connected through idlers I35 and Ilt to the gear I47 onthe shaft 3I.

The shaft I2? also bears a pinion Ill connected through an idler I18 toa pinion H9 on the shaft I25, the location and connection of the pinionsITII'I8-II3 being identical with that described with reference to the.pinions. I6II32-I63I64 for the rollers I34 and I35.

It will, therefore, be observed that we have provided an ironing machinein which napkins may be fed into the machine in proper centeringrelation relative to the ironing surfaces upon which they are to beironed and which will, therefore, permit the accurate folding of thenapkins along such centers as the napkin progresses through the machineby successive movements of the rotor 8.

7 It will also be observed that the napkins may be fed to the machine byemploying the feeding mechanism 49 automatically finding the centers ofvarying sizes of napkins and properly locating the napkins upon theironing surfaces of the rotor.

It will also be observed that with our machine the folding of the napkinis not only accomplished but that the napkin is ironed upon the fold sothat a, napkin fed into our machine is first ironed fiat, then foldedupon one center and ironed, then folded upon another center and ironed,and the napkin is thus completely finished ready for use. While thefinished napkin may be passed out of our machine by any suitable means,we have diagrammatically illustrated herein a transporting mechanismwhich will receive the napkin from the rollers I34 and I35 and pass thesame outwardly through an exit opening I89 as they are finished. Thetransporting mechanism illustrated herein consists essentially of anendless belt conveyor IBI mounted to operate upon suitable rollers, theinner end I82 of which is illustrated as being mounted substantiallybelow the space between the rollers I34 and I35. The conveyor may bedriven by any suitable means so long as the movement of the conveyorbelt is sufficiently rapid to receive the downcoming end or edge of thenapkin and move the same toward the exit opening at a speed preventingthe napkins from piling up immediately beneath the rollers.

While the feeding mechanism illustrated herein moves the rotor onlythrough 60 of movement for each rotation of the shaft 3I, it may bedesirable to provide a folding mechanism for preventing inadvertentmovement of the rotor during the ironing operation or during any of theother operations of machine, and for this purpose we have illustrated afolding device as comprising a lever I83 pivoted to the slide bearingIII, as indicated at I84, the lever I83 being provided upon its loweredge with a. notch I 85 engageable with one of the teeth 28 of the star-Wheel so that when so engaged the star-wheel cannot be moved. The outerend I86 of the lever I83 may be projected into the path of movement ofthe cam surface 99 of the crank 30 so that immediately prior to theinitial movement of the pin 29 to engage the star-wheel the lever I83will be momentarily lifted to release the starwheel while as soon as theforward movement of the rotor is completed the lever I83 will againengage its notch upon the ends of the teeth of the star-wheel to holdthe same against further movement until the next forward movement of therotor.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, we do not wish to be limited to any of the details ofconstruction shown herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, means forming a supportingsurface upon which a work piece to be ironed may be placed, and meansfor feeding fiat work pieces to said supporting surface with transversecenter lines of said work pieces aligned with predetermined transversecenter lines of said supporting surface.

2. In an ironing device for flat work pieces of 5 located upon saidsupporting surface irrespective of their dimensions.

3. In an ironing device for flat work pieces of varying dimensions,means forming a supporting surface upon which fiat work pieces may be 20placed fiat ready for ironing, having dimensions in excess of themaximum dimensions of the work pieces to be ironed thereon, and meansfor feeding flat work pieces of varying dimensions to said supportingsurface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned withtransverse center lines of said supporting surface, and means operatingalong the center line of said supporting surface for engaging the centerline of work pieces thereon to fold the same.

4. In an ironing device for flat work pieces, a frame, a rotor mountedfor rotation in said frame and having a plurality of work piecesupporting surfaces distributed therearound, means for feeding workpieces to said surfaces as the surfaces are successively presented to apredetermined position by rotation of said rotor, and ironing means forsuccessively ironing pieces on surfaces presented to a succeedingposition.

5. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, a 40 frame, a rotormounted for rotation in said frame and having a plurality of work piecesupporting surfaces distributed therearound, means for feeding workpieces to said surfaces as the surfaces are successively presented to apredetermined position by rotation of said rotor, ironing means forsuccessively ironing pieces on surfaces presented to a succeedingposition, and means for moving said rotor, said feeding means and saidironing means in predetermined timed relation to each other.

6. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, a frame, a rotor mountedfor rotation in said frame and having a plurality of work piecesupporting surfaces distributed therearound, means for feeding workpieces to said surfaces as the surfaces are successively presented to apredetermined position by rotation of said rotor, ironing means forsuccessively ironing pieces on surfaces presented to a succeedingposition, and means for folding work pieces on said surfaces when movedto a still further successive position by rotation of said rotor.

'7. In an ironing device for fiat work pieces, a supporting surface uponwhich work pieces may be supported while fiat, having a slot in saidsupporting surface extending transversely of a work piece thereon, meansfor folding a work piece including a tucker insertable through said slotto engage a work piece and pass the same through said slot, and ironingmeans mounted below said surface for receiving said folded work pieceand for ironing said folded piece.

8. In an ironing device for flat work pieces, a supporting surface uponwhich work pieces may be supported while fiat and having a slot in saidsupporting surface extending transversely of a work piece thereon, apair of cooperative ironing rollers mounted below said supportingsurface with the space between said rollers aligned with said slot, andmeans for folding a work piece including a tucker insertable throughsaid slot to engage a work piece thereon and pass the same through saidslot and into the space between said ironing rollers.

9. In an ironing device for flat work pieces, means for supporting flatwork pieces while flat, including a rotor having thereon a plurality ofsurfaces for receiving Work pieces, each of said surfaces being providedwith a slot extending transversely of work pieces placed thereon, tuckermeans for engaging and folding work pieces, means for moving said tuckerinto and out of the slot in said rotor, means for intermittentlyrotating said rotor, and for moving said tucker only when said tucker isaligned with one of said slots.

10. In a positioning device for fiat work pieces, a supporting shelfupon which pieces may be placed, means at one edge of said shelf forengaging the ends of one edge of a work piece, means mounting saidengaging means for equal and opposite movement relative to a line drawnthrough the center of said shelf whereby a work piece so engaged willhave its center line accurately aligned with the center line of saidshelf.

11. In a positioning device for flat work pieces, a supporting shelfupon which pieces may be placed, means atone edge of said shelf forengaging the ends of one edge of a work piece, means mounting saidengaging means for equal and opposite movement relative to a line drawnthrough the center of said shelf, whereby a work piece so engaged willhave its center line accurately aligned with the center line of saidshelf, a guide for the opposite edge of said work piece, means mountingsaid guide and said engaging means for equal and opposite movementrelative to the transverse center line of said shelf, whereby alignmentof the opposite edge of said work piece in said guide will accuratelyalign the transverse center of said work with said transverse centerline of said shelf.

12. In an ironing device for flat work pieces of varying dimensions,means forming a supporting surface upon which fiat work pieces may beplaced flat ready for ironing, having dimensions in excess of themaximum dimensions of the work pieces to be ironed thereon, and meansfor feeding flat work pieces of varying dimensions to said supportingsurface with transverse center lines of said work pieces aligned withtransverse center lines of said supporting surface, folding meansoperable along a plane extending through one of the center lines of saidsupporting surface for folding said work piece along one of its centerlines, and a second folding means operable along a plane extendingthrough the other of the center lines of said supporting surface toengage said folded work piece and refold the same along the other of itscenter lines.

13. In a device for folding rectangular work pieces, means forming asupporting surface for receiving said work pieces while flat, means forfeeding said work pieces to said supporting surface with transversecenter lines of said work pieces aligned with transverse center lines ofsaid supporting surface, folding means operable along a plane extendingthrough one of the center lines of said supporting surface for engagingand folding said work piece along one of its center lines, a secondsupporting surface for receiving said folded work piece, and a secondfolding means operable along a plane extending through the other of saidcenter lines of said supporting surface for engaging said folded workpiece and folding the same along the other of its centers.

14. In a device for folding rectangular flat work pieces, means forminga supporting surface for receiving and holding pieces while flat andhaving a slot extending therethrough along one of the center lines ofsaid supporting surface, means for feeding said work pieces to said sup-1 porting surface with transverse center lines of said work piecesaligned with the two transverse center lines of said supporting surface,means for folding said work piece along one of its center linesincluding a tucker insertable through said slot to fold said work pieceand pass the same through said supporting surface, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers mounted below said supporting surface and aligned withsaid slot for rolling said folded work piece therebetween,

a second supporting table adjacent said rollers for receiving saidfolded work piece therefrom, and having a slot extending ina planecoincident with the transverse center line of said supporting surface, asecond tucker movable through said slot in said second supportingsurface to fold said work piece along the transverse center linethereof.

15. In a device for folding rectangular fiat work pieces, means forminga supporting surface for receiving and holding pieces while flat andhaving a slot extending therethrough along one of the center lines ofsaid supporting surface, means for feeding said work pieces to saidsupporting surface with transverse center lines of said work piecesaligned with the two transverse center lines of said supporting surface,means for folding said work piece along one of its center linesincluding a tucker insertable through said slot to fold said work pieceand pass the same through said supporting surface, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers mounted below said supporting surface and aligned withsaid slot for rolling said folded work piece therebetween, a secondsupporting table adjacent said rollers for receiving said folded workpiece therefrom, and having a slot extending in a plane coincident withthe transverse center line of said supporting surface, a second tuckermovable through said slot in said second supporting surface to fold saidwork piece along the transverse center line thereof, and a second set ofcooperating rollers mounted below said second supporting surface andaligned with the slot therein for receiving and rolling said work pieceafter the second fold has been made therein.

EDWARD WALKER. HARRY CRICKLER.

